Chapter 8
"Are you sure na pumayag ang papa mo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Synestine sa akin.
Nakangiti naman akong tumango sa kanya. "I told you, I let him know about it. Pinayagan naman ako. I thought we could be spontaneous as much as we want, pero malalagot din talaga ako sa kanila kapag nalaman nilang umalis ako tapos walang magbabantay sa shop. At least now they know what I would do."
"Alright, sabi mo 'yan, ha?"
"Oo naman, ako pa." Ngisi ko pa. "Saka three days lang naman tayo. It wouldn't take us long."
She giggled, shaking her head. "No, no. Even though we could spend all our summer together escaping into the wilderness, I would do it, but you've got a life out here and I'm just to take you out of it in the meantime."
"I love that, Sy. . . This could be a breath of fresh air for me."
"I knew you would love it." Ngiti pa nito sa akin. "So, are you ready? Do you have your bags? Got the keys, too?"
I nodded. "Yup. I'm lucky I've got a good friend like Tomas at pinahiram sa akin ang sasakyan niya. They would be leaving this weekend for Dubai."
"Oh, I see. . . So, may chance na magkita sila ro'n ni Cameron?"
Natawa naman ako saka tumango. "You know how he hated Cameron so much and wished he wouldn't have a chance to see them there. But what do you think, can he get away from him?"
Napahagikgik naman siya saka napakibitbalikat. "Hindi ko rin sure. I knew Cameron wouldn't go all day around, pero feeling ko he wouldn't missed a chance to go around the city driving their sports car. Alam mo na. . ."
Napangisi naman ako. "Well, he has to let the world know what he had. Anyway, I hope you're ready because this will be a wild ride even though I don't know where we are going."
"You will be surprised, babe—I mean, Cholo."
I chuckled at her. "It's fine. Call me whatever you want."
"Alright, if you say so. Well, I should be the one asking you the question. . . Are you ready?"
I smirked. "I don't think that should be a question because I have to be ready. Just like life, it's unpredictable, but you gotta go with the flow wherever it may bring you. Then you came, bringing me here to this situation right where we are. I'm excited because I haven't done something spontaneous like this, but I ain't no chicken. I love some fun and thrill."
"I'm so happy to hear that! I'm excited that I get to do this with you. . . I've got the perfect destination for us, and I won't spoil it until we get there."
"I also don't like spoilers, so keep it all you want."
"I will." Kindat pa nito sa akin.
Kaunti na lang talaga, hulog na hulog na ako sa 'to, Sy. But she wouldn't probably know that in this lifetime. It would be hard for me to get this feeling out of my chest, and I don't want to ruin something growing beautifully between us. I knew she just got out of a relationship, and I wouldn't take that for granted just because she was single. I'm not the kind of person who would do that. I would give her time, and if it's the right time, then it would be the perfect time for me to do it.
Just not now.
I carried her bags to the car. Sa trunk ko nilagay ang mga gamit namin. She told me to bring enough clothes kahit na three days lang ang itatagal namin. Hindi na ako nagtanong at nag-empake na lang din ako ng damit ng more than three days pa. There was just something in me when she asked me out on this quick vacation.
Nang maayos ko naman ang mga gamit ko ay pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan. Katabi ko si Synestine at ang ngiti niya ang bumungad sa akin. As we get ready to go, I was about to strap the seatbelt on me when I noticed that Synestine was having a little trouble on putting hers. When I went to get it for her, she was a little embarrassed because she couldn't do it correctly. I was able to pull it for her and locked it in.
"Is it all good?" I asked her.
Tumango naman siya sa akin nang may maliit na ngiti sa labi. I knew she was a little embarassed, but I know she shouldn't.
"Don't worry, Sy. I felt so stupid the first time I jumped in this car, too. Tomas laughed at me and didn't even help me pull until I figured it out by myself."
Bahagya naman siyang natawa. "Well, we can be dumb at some times."
I laughed. "Yes, we probably can be."
"We haven't even started and I'm feeling stupid, but hey don't make this as a perception that this trip would go back because I can assure you that this would be the best summer of your life."
"For real?" I questioned. "Last year, I went to Boracay with my family and thought it was the best summer I had yet. Can this trip top my last summer vacation?"
She grinned, nodding her head. "Yes! I've been planning this for a long time! I'm just so excited."
"I can see that," pagpunta ko pa. Namula naman siya. "You look so—" I was about to say beautiful, and she is, it's the truth, but I don't want to ruin this moment for us, especially for you. I just know this would be the best summer for now. I'm not sure how this trip would go, but I've got a good feeling. . . I hope you're feeling the same thing!"
"I do feel the same. Halo-halo ba? I'm nervous and at the same time, I'm excited. Alam mo 'yong feeling na 'yon?"
Tumango naman ito bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ko. "I do, Cho. Always. I've got so many stories to tell you, but we've got a journey awaiting us. . . I think we should go now. It'll be a long ride for us."
"How long are we talking about?" I asked. Kibit balikat lang din naman ang sagot niya sa akin. "Okay. Wherever that it."
I started driving the car. I didn't ask her for any specific location, and she was the only one giving directions on where I should go. That was kind of exciting for me dahil wala akong ideya kung saan ako pupunta. Usually, whenever I go out, alam ko na kung anong gagawin ko sa pupuntahan kong lugar, pero ngayon ay wala akong kaalam-alam. It was terrifying, and yet I kept looking forward to it because there was this person who got to make me feel good.
"I just want to share with you," I started. She looked at me as if she was interested in learning more about what I would say. "I've never really tried doing this kind of stuff, siguro dahil wala akong budget para maging spontaneous, but I was able to live life as much as I did. . . Now, I can't wait to put some more thrill in this life"
"That's interesting. . . So, let's say may budget ka, would you do it?"
Napangisi naman ako. "Of course, why wouldn't I? Baka nga hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas ako pumunta, e. I would go anywhere in the world where I can be limitless. Ang sarap kaya maging malaya. . ."
"I totally agree with you. . ." aniya at nilingon ko siya ng mabilisan. "Alam mo na 'yon kung anong tinutukoy ko."
"Yeah, Sy. . . And I'm glad you are. . ."
I knew when I said that, she looked at me, and I realized it could also mean something. Hindi ko na lang din itinama ang sinabi ko. I tried not to make any reaction by smiling, so at the back of my head, I was smiling so wide that the only thing that could make me smile was her.
Before we went back straight to where we were heading, we stopped by a gas station so I could fill up the gas. Tomas told me that I should protect his baby at all costs. Binalalaan niya talaga ako na 'wag na 'wag kong pababayaan ang sasakyan niya kung hindi ay mag-friendship over na kaming dalawa. I knew what he meant, and lending me his car was huge for me. He put his trust on me knowing that whatever he thought could possibly happen. Pagbabayarin niya raw kasi ako. Walang kai-kaibigan dahil malalagot din daw siya sa magulang niya.
I don't intend to do anything bad, especially when I'm with someone who I can't take for granted.
It seemed like the start of an endless journey for me, and I can't wait to experience it with her. This would definitely gonna be one for the books. Tomas might be having so much fun in Dubai, but I can say the same thing here with me, I feel like I'm the happiest and luckiest man in the world.
What a moment for me. I hope it never lasts.
